A Message from Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal

The Traffic Tribunal succeeded the Administrative Adjudication Court under the Rhode Island Traffic Safety and Accountability Act of 1999, Chapter 8-8.2 of Title 8 of the General Laws.  Although it is a separate entity, the Tribunal is supervised by the Chief Judge of the District Court.

Prior to 1975 all traffic offenses in Rhode Island, except parking, were criminal violations (misdemeanors or felonies) and were heard by the District Court.  With the establishment of the Administrative Adjudication Division (AAD) under the Department of Transportation, most traffic offenses were decriminalized and placed under the jurisdiction of this quasi-judicial body.  Those that were not decriminalized are still handled by the District Court and include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, driving without a valid license, and leaving the scene of an accident.

In 1992 the Administrative Adjudication Court (AAC) was established to succeed the AAD.  Operating under Title 31, Chapter 43, of the General Laws, the AAC was responsible for hearing most traffic cases, for distributing and controlling traffic summons, for operating driver retraining schools, and for maintaining accurate driver accident and violation records.  The AAC previously heard appeals from the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Municipal Courts.

On the establishment of the new Traffic Tribunal, many changes occurred, both structural and procedural.  The most pertinent changes are as follows:

 

• The administrative functions of Operator Control and Driver Retraining were returned to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
  
  

• A three-judge appeals panel continues to hear appeals within the Traffic Tribunal, but all appeals from the Tribunal are now heard in the District Court.
  
  

• The Traffic Tribunal has the authority to enforce its own judgments.
  
  

• The Traffic Tribunal's new judicial officers are magistrates.  As present judges retire, they will be replaced by magistrates.
  
  

• New rules of procedure for the Traffic Tribunal were promulgated by the Chief Judge of the District Court and approved by the Supreme Court, effective March 31, 2000.